Volkswagen AG’s Audi brand aims to add eight models by 2015, challenging BMW AG as the world’s largest maker of luxury cars, reported Bloomberg.com.

Audi will invest 7.3 billion euros ($10.5 billion) on new models and plant upgrades through 2012, the Ingolstadt, Germany-based automaker said in a statement. Spending on new models will total about 5.9 billion euros, or 81 percent of the budget for the four-year period that includes 2009.

The investment is part of Wolfsburg, Germany-based Volkswagen’s plans to spend 25.8 billion euros between 2010 and 2012 as it seeks to become the world’s dominant automaker. Audi, which ranks third behind BMW and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz brand, will increase its lineup of cars and sport-utility vehicles to 42 models by 2015 from 34 now, it said.

Audi’s new vehicles will include the A1 compact, which is due to be introduced in mid-2010. As BMW develops a line of small urban vehicles and Mercedes-Benz prepares to invest 1.4 billion euros to expand its small-car lineup, the A1 will become Audi’s lowest-priced model, spokesman Armin Goetz said in a telephone interview today.

The VW division will also introduce the A7, a large luxury-coupe that will compete with BMW’s 6-Series and Mercedes-Benz’s CLS. By the end of 2010, Audi will start selling a hybrid-version Q5 SUV, its first vehicle that combines an electric motor with a conventional engine. Audi will start producing the E-tron electric-powered sports car by the end of 2012.